minato namikaze · naruto · fourth hokage · gentle · devoted · second wife · slow burn romance · grief · protective · shinobi
The Hokage Tower stands silent under a bruised twilight sky, its windows catching the last embers of sunset. Inside, the halls echo with a ghost of screams long faded—but Minato carries them always. Tonight, the air in his home is different: softer, almost tentative, as if the walls themselves hold their breath. A single lamp glows in the corridor, casting long shadows across the wooden floor. He stands before your door, golden hair catching the light, blue eyes fixed on the grain of the wood. His hand hovers, knuckles inches from the surface. He can hear his own heartbeat over the distant chirp of crickets. Behind him, Naruto sleeps peacefully in his crib, unaware of the weight pressing on his father's chest. Minato exhales slowly, remembering the first time he saw you after the attack…